“Don’t be afraid,” Edra whispered, her ancient face becoming suddenly visible as a fire bloomed to life in a large brazier. “There is nothing here that would ever harm you.”
Nothing but you, Abby whispered silently.
“Why are we here?”
The witch moved across the floor. “I have something I wish to show you.”
Edra was walking toward what appeared to be a large slab of marble set next to the brazier. It appeared all the world like something you would put on top of a grave.
Along the edge of the marble were precisely arranged black candles and dried herbs. And in the very center was a strange symbol drawn with a thick, clotted liquid that gleamed with a reddish-black hue.
Abby’s stomach clenched as she reluctantly followed in the woman’s wake.
“What is this?”
“My modest altar.” The witch reached out to stroke the cold stone with a reverent hand. “Not what I desired to present to the beloved Goddess, but I was forced to leave much behind after the attack by the wizard.”
“Why are we here?”
The tiny head turned to stab Abby with a glittering gaze. Abby grimaced. In the shifting candlelight, the woman looked like a shriveled lizard.
And just about as warm.
“To change the world, my lady.”
Abby shifted uneasily. “That’s a little vague.”
“It’s time that the full glory of the Phoenix be revealed. Her power will cleanse the world.”
Cleanse the world.
It certainly sounded nicer than mass murder.
“Cleanse the world of what?” she demanded, needing to hear the woman admit her black-hearted intentions.
“Evil.”
“Again, a little vague.” She wrapped her arms about her waist. Any dark and dank cellar was creepy, but with the candles and mortician slab and some goo that might or might not be blood, this took creepy to a new level. “Precisely what evil are we cleansing?”
“The demons, of course. And those who worship the dark lord.”
“The dark lord has been banished from this world.”
Impatience as well as something that might have been anger tightened the older woman’s lips. Obviously she was not a big fan of having her decisions put up for debate.
“His foulness still taints the very air we breathe. He calls to his disciples and they answer. They must all be brought to an end,” she rasped.
Abby licked her lips. “And you expect the Phoenix to do this?”
“Of course. The beloved Goddess was meant to rule.” She held out her gnarled hands as if accepting worship from some unseen disciples. “Just as I was meant to rule. Our time has at last arrived.”
Good God, the woman was certifiable.
Hurry, Dante, she silently breathed. Please hurry.
“I understand your desire. It is no doubt admirable, but there are surely other means of battling evil?” she attempted to soothe. Pacify the crazy person. That was always her motto.
Absurdly the witch appeared outraged rather than soothed.
“Understand?” She moved to stand directly before Abby. “What could you possibly understand, girl?”
“I understand right from wrong.”
“Until a few days ago, you thought demons to be nothing more than fairy tales.”
Abby found her terror being swallowed by a growing anger. Dammit. She hadn’t wanted to be some stupid Chalice. Or to have monsters chasing her around. Or to be some sort of savior of the world.
But now that she had been forced into this position, she wasn’t going to be bullied into becoming the evil they were supposed to be fighting.
“Perhaps I didn’t know, but now I realize that there are many sorts of demons. Not all of them bad.”
“The vampire,” Edra hissed. “He has seduced you.”
Abby clenched her hands. “This has nothing to do with Dante. I will not be a part of wholesale murder.”
The witch stepped close enough to cloak Abby in the sour scent of sweat and cloves.
“Have you battled against darkness for the past three centuries?” she rasped. “Have you given your very soul to keep the horror at bay? Have you watched innocent women slaughtered like pigs beneath the magic of a foul wizard?”
In spite of herself, Abby stumbled backward. Her eyes might tell her that she could pick up the frail old woman and rattle her silly. Her heart warned her that the witch could wave a wand and squash her like a bug.
“I’m the Chalice,” she bluffed. “You can’t force me to perform a spell.”
“I would prefer that you join with me.” Edra raised a hand to point her finger directly between Abby’s eyes. “But we can do this the hard way.”
Oh God, here comes the bug-squashing part.
“No . . . wait . . .”
The words barely left her lips when a blinding pain exploded in her head.
Abby tumbled to her knees. She clutched her head as she realized she was going to die.
No one could survive such pain.
Dante, where the hell are you?
Viper and Dante slid into the shadows as the sound of noisy footsteps echoed through the hall.
Taking a deep sniff, Dante leaned close to his companion and whispered directly in his ear. “Two men, both human.” His fangs lengthened. “I’ll take care of them. You go to Abby.”
Viper paused. “You’re certain?”
“I can’t harm Edra. You can.”
A cold smile touched the elegant features. “It will be my pleasure.”
Not even the air stirred as Viper disappeared from his side. Remaining in the shadows, Dante waited for the men to walk directly past him. Only then did he leap forward, taking the nearest guard to the floor with fluid strength.
He felt the second man reach to grasp his arm. Without even glancing in his direction, Dante threw him into the nearby wall. There was a thud and a groan as the attacker slid to the floor.
The man underneath him grimly struggled to reach beneath his bulky form. Dante smiled wryly, knowing the fool was no doubt reaching for a gun. He either didn’t know a vampire held him or had no idea bullets couldn’t harm the undead.
Grasping a handful of hair, he smacked the thick skull onto the floor, and then again. He felt the body beneath him go slack, and Dante was on his feet.
Both men were out cold, but he wasn’t about to leave them behind. Opening a nearby door, he returned to the unconscious men and easily tossed them into the narrow room. With the same speed, he bound them with their belts and closed the door.
Silently he was once again moving forward. There was the sharp scent of blood ahead of him. Viper, no doubt. Unless the witches banded together, they would prove no match for the powerful vampire.
Ignoring the potent smell, Dante angled toward the back of the house. The fainter scent of the Shalott led him through the empty library to a small closet that had been locked with three iron bars.
Not a barrier to vampires, but Dante was willing to bet that iron was a threat to Shalotts.
With a grimace at the inevitable noise, Dante ripped the bars from the door, tossing them aside as he glanced over his shoulder to ensure that no one had come charging into the room to confront him.
The room was empty, but his momentary distraction didn’t go unpunished as the door exploded outward and a slender form leapt forward to catch him on the chin with a sharp kick.
With a grunt that was as much annoyance as pain, Dante whirled to discover the demon bent in a menacing crouch.
There was a lethal, near-intoxicating beauty in her long, slender limbs and flowing black hair, but Dante had no interest in her physical attributes. Or even the cloud of pheromones that filled the room.
His bond with Abby made him impervious to her potent allure.
Instead he prepared himself for another attack.
She wouldn’t get another cheap shot.
Holding up a hand, he regarded her with a frown. “Let me sp
eak.”
Her hands flexed in warning. “Stay back, vampire.”
“This may be difficult to believe, but I’ve come to help you.”
Her lips curled. “And all I have to do is allow you to have a few sips, right? Thanks, but no thanks.”
Dante gritted his teeth. Had there ever been a woman born—human, demon, or other—that didn’t have to argue?
“I have no desire for your blood, Shalott,” he rasped. “But I will need your skills.”
“Forget it.” She gently swayed, like a cobra preparing to strike. “I’ll see you dead first.”
Realizing she thought he meant her hereditary skills of seducing vampires, he gave an impatient wave of his hand.
“I need your fighting skills.” He allowed his gaze to shift to the savage cuts that marred her arms and upper torso. He would bet she possessed a matching set on her back. She had been whipped as if she were an animal. “I intend to put an end to the witches.”
She stilled, her brows snapping together. “It’s impossible. They’re too strong.”
“Not after they were nearly wiped out by the wizard. They can’t stand against two vampires and a Shalott.”
She sniffed the air as if seeking to determine if he spoke the truth.
“Why should I trust you?”
“I’m chained just as you are.”
Her breath caught. “The beast.”
“Yes.”
Without warning, she straightened and Dante bared his fangs. Promise or not, if the woman attacked him again, he would rip out her throat.
Instead she glared at him with a hint of fear.
“The Phoenix is here?” she demanded. “You must get her out.”
“That’s exactly what I intend to do. With your help.”
“If they perform the ritual—”
“Can you fight?” he interrupted.
“Yes. The spell can only force me to come to them when they call.”
He smiled wryly. “I meant are you well enough to fight? You’ve been injured.”
She appeared momentarily startled by his concern. As if it was the last thing she expected. Then, as if embarrassed by her display of vulnerability, her chin tilted to a proud angle.
“I can fight.”
“Then let’s go.”
There was a tense beat before she gave a jerky nod of her head and they moved out of the room side by side. Neither was comfortable with having the other at their back.
“The cellar,” he muttered, and with a nod she was headed down the hall toward what he hoped was the entrance to the stairs.
As they neared the kitchen, however, she slowed her pace as she shot him a warning frown.
“There is magic being used ahead.”
Dante gave a grim nod as he bent down to pull the daggers from his boots. He could have taken a gun from the guards he had captured, but the last thing he wanted was some nosy neighbor calling the cops.
He doubted Chicago’s finest could be convinced that two vampires and a demon were the good guys.
Slipping into the kitchen, Dante’s gaze flashed over the circle of witches who currently held Viper in a binding spell. Snarling with fury, the elder vampire was battling with all he was worth, but it was obvious for the moment he was trapped.
Thankfully his struggles ensured that the witches were unaware of Dante’s approach. It was taking everything they possessed to keep Viper caged.
Forced to halt as he determined which of the women had held his leash, Dante was briefly startled as a blur streaked past him and the Shalott was launching herself at the nearest witch. There was a loud shriek swiftly followed by another as Dante threw his dagger into the back of a chanting witch.
Belatedly realizing their danger, the witches turned to face their latest threat and the spell faltered. Dante flowed forward even as Viper smiled with vicious anticipation.
In the end, the battle was short and brutal. The older witches were dead at the hands of Viper and the Shalott while Dante had used his powers of enthrallment on the younger witches. They now sat huddled on the floor, nursing their injuries and obediently awaiting Dante’s commands.
His hasty touch had been crushing as he had easily broken their spirit. They couldn’t so much as stir from the floor without his permission.
Retrieving his dagger, he wiped the blood off before slipping it back into its sheath.
As he straightened, he watched Viper slowly stalk toward the female demon, the older vampire’s eyes glittering with a dangerous fire.
“Ah, the Shalott,” Viper murmured in silken tones. “Beautiful.”
Moving until her back was to the wall, the demon held out a warning hand.
“Stay back.”
Viper chuckled. “I won’t harm you.”
The Shalott tossed back her long mane of raven curls. Dante stifled a groan at the unconsciously provocative motion. With the bloodlust running hot in the air, the demon would be better served to play the role of a passive victim than to directly challenge Viper.
“Yeah, I’ve heard that a lot,” she sneered. “Usually right before someone tries to harm me.”
Not surprisingly, Viper slid forward and Dante hurriedly followed directly behind him.
Dammit, they didn’t have time for this foolishness.
Debating how much force would be needed to halt the determined vampire, Dante found himself careening off Viper’s wide back as he came to a sudden halt and sniffed the air.
“Human,” he breathed.
The Shalott’s eyes widened. “What?”
“You’re a mongrel.”
Without warning, the demon leaped on Viper and toppled him to the ground. She ended up seated on his chest.
“Don’t push it, vamp,” she growled.
Viper laughed as he twisted to send her to the floor with his larger body pinning her down.
“Don’t take on more than you can chew, human.”
Dante had endured enough. His entire body vibrated with the need to find Abby and carry her from this house.
“Are we going to fight the witches or each other?” he demanded sharply.
Viper gave a nod as he flowed to his feet and tugged the reluctant Shalott off the floor.
“We’ll have to finish our game later, pet,” he murmured as he moved directly to the door nearly hidden in the pantry. “Business first, I fear.”
Chapter 25
It seemed a shame to leave the darkness.
The darkness was warm and soothing and didn’t have one psychopathic witch or rampaging zombie.
And best of all, the darkness didn’t have the throbbing pain that she could feel lurking in the back of her head.
Unfortunately, along with the throbbing in the back of her head was also the ever-present sense of Dante. Although they were separated, she could feel his cold fury as he battled to make his way to her side.
Until he could reach the basement, it would be up to her to keep Edra from using the Phoenix to perform her demented spell.
Damn.
Slowly absorbing the pounding pain that seized her head, Abby wrenched open her eyes to discover she was strapped onto the slab of marble.
Somehow she wasn’t a bit surprised.
How sick was that?
She bit back a groan and then like any fool who ever found themselves tied up, she instinctively struggled against the leather straps that held her down.
It was a futile effort, of course. The straps were not overly tight, but they would hold her. Still, her movement had brushed her arm against her waist and reminded her of the dagger that was in its sheath. Her shirt had managed to hide the weapon, and thankfully the witch hadn’t thought to check her.
Now if she could get her arms free to use it.
Covertly she scooted to one side. As she expected, the strap bit into her left arm, but it eased the pressure on the other. On the point of discovering if she could wiggle her arm free, she was halted as a shadow fell over the table.
“Ah, so you have awakened.” Edra smiled with cold pleasure.
Forcing herself to hold perfectly still, Abby glared into the lizard eyes.
“You must stop this,” she gritted.
“It is too late. The spell will soon be cast.”
The witch stepped closer, holding what looked to be a silver goblet. Abby shrank against the cold marble. She didn’t know what was in the strange goblet, but she was fairly certain she didn’t want to find out.
At her movement, the candles flickered and her attention was captured by an unmoving lump in the middle of the floor.
Her heart halted as she blinked, and then blinked again.
It wasn’t a lump. It was the body of a woman with short black hair and the sort of Goth make-up that made it impossible to determine anything more than that she was female and young.
And very, very dead.
Lying on the hard floor, her eyes were wide as if caught in eternal surprise and her mouth open. Most horrid of all was the ugly gash that marred her throat and allowed her thick blood to pool onto the dirt below her chin.
Abby gasped as she struggled against the rising nausea.
“Holy hell. Did you kill her?” she croaked.
“Such powerful magic demands blood.”
Abby reluctantly turned back to the woman poised above her.
“You’re crazy. You’re stark raving mad.”
A flare of color stained her pasty cheeks. “You will shut your mouth. You know nothing of the sacrifices I have endured,” she hissed. “For three centuries I have devoted my life for this moment. While Selena pampered and preened and surrounded herself with luxury, I hid in the shadows and protected her. I faced the evil and kept it at bay. I looked into the heart of darkness to prepare myself to bring an end to those who would destroy the Phoenix. It is I who will save the world.”
Abby shifted even farther to the side, further loosening her arm. She had to get free. There would be no reasoning with the lunatic. Whatever sanity she may once have possessed was long gone.
“And so you deserve to slice open the throat of some innocent young girl?” she demanded, determined to keep the woman too angry to notice her odd wiggles.
“Her death will serve a higher purpose.” There was not a flicker of remorse. “It is a fate we should all aspire to.”
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